anti-rabies clinic

Press release:

The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a FREE anti-rabies immunization clinic on Thursday, February 9th from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Batavia Town Highway Garage (3833 West Main Street Road, Batavia). 

“We encourage residents to take advantage of this opportunity to make sure that their animals are immunized against rabies and that the vaccinations are kept up to date,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Rabies continues to be a serious public health concern in Genesee and Orleans Counties and is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Please leave wildlife alone and do not feed, touch, or adopt wild animals, stray dogs or cats.”

Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats, and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.

To save time, please click here to fill out your registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you to the clinic.

The next anti-rabies immunization clinics are as follows:

• Genesee County Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY)
  • Thursday, May 18^th, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, August 10^th, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, October 12^th, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Orleans County Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 State Route 31, Albion, NY)  
  • Saturday, April 15^th, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, June 7^th, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, August 26^th, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  • Saturday, October 21^st, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For more information on Health Department services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call 589-3278 for Orleans County or (585) 344-2580 ext. 5555 for Genesee County.

Press release:

The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting their last FREE drive-thru anti-rabies immunization clinic of 2022. The clinic will be held on Thursday, Oct. 13 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia).

“Rabies is a fatal, but preventable viral disease that can spread to people from pets if they are bitten and scratched by an infected animal with rabies,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “We encourage residents to take advantage of our last anti-rabies immunization clinic of 2022 and ensure their pets are protected against rabies.”

Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.

To save you time, please click here to fill out your registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you to the clinic.

For more information on Health Department services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call 585-344-2580 ext.5555.

Press release:

The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a FREE drive-thru anti-rabies immunization clinic on Thursday, Sept. 15 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia).

“Rabies continues to be a public health issue in Genesee County. We urge pet owners to take this opportunity to ensure their pets are protected against rabies,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Our drive-thru clinics are well-organized, run very smoothly and prevent animals from getting into any altercations with other animals.”

Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats, and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum. To save you time, please click here to fill out your registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you to the clinic.

The next anti-rabies immunization clinics are as follows:

• Genesee County Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY)
  • Thursday, October 13^th, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Orleans County Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 Rt. 31, Albion, NY)  
  • Saturday, October 15^th, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For more information on Health Department services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 for Genesee County or 589-3278 for Orleans County.

Press release:

The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a FREE drive-thru anti-rabies immunization clinic on Thursday, August 11th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia).

New York State Public Health Law requires all dogs, cats and domestic ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies after they reach the age of 4 months. Animals must also remain up-to-date on rabies vaccinations and owners can be fined up to $200 if they fail to get their pets vaccinated and keep them up to date.

“Animal rabies continues to be a serious public health problem in Genesee County,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “We remind all residents to make sure that their animals are immunized against rabies and that their vaccinations are kept up to date.”

Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats, and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.

To save you time, please click here to fill out your registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you to the clinic.

The next anti-rabies immunization clinics are as follows:

• Genesee County Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY)
  • Thursday, September 15th, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, October 13th, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Orleans County Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 Rt. 31, Albion, NY)  
  • Saturday, August 13th, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  • Saturday, October 15th, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For more information on Health Department services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call 589-3278 for Orleans County or 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 for Genesee County.

Press release:

The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a FREE drive-thru anti-rabies immunization clinic on Thursday, May 19th, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia).

“We encourage all residents to take advantage of this opportunity to make sure that their animals are immunized against rabies and that the vaccinations are kept up to date,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Rabies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Please leave wildlife alone and do not feed, touch, or adopt wild animals (including baby wild animals), stray dogs or cats.”

Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal—limit 4 pets per car maximum.

To save you time, please click here to fill out your registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you to the clinic.

The next anti-rabies immunization clinics are as follows:

• Genesee County Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY)
  • Thursday, August 11th, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, September 15th, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, October 13th, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Orleans County Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 Rt. 31, Albion, NY)
  • Saturday, June 4th, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  • Saturday, August 13th, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  • Saturday, October 15th, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For more information on Health Department services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call 589-3278 for Orleans County or 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 for Genesee County.

Press release:

Spring is here and that means wild animals will be giving birth to their babies. Sometimes these cute baby animals will stray away from their mothers and wander into backyards, into barns, and onto porches tempting people to catch them and take them in as their own. “Please leave them alone because it can put you and other family members at risk of exposure to a fatal disease such as rabies,” stated Paul Pettit, Director of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health).

Rabies is a central nervous system disease, which attacks the brain and almost always results in death if rabies exposure is not treated. Rabies is most often spread through bites, scratches, and contact with infected saliva. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rabies is most often seen in bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes, but any mammal can be infected with rabies. In addition, pets and livestock can get rabies if they are not vaccinated to protect against infection.

In 2021, GO Health tested 46 animals for rabies, and four tested positive. Additionally, 221 dogs and 54 cats were observed in 10-day confinement between the two counties. A domestic animal is subject to 10-day confinement if they bite a human. The animal’s health and behavior is monitored for 10 days to determine if rabies may be present and if further action is required.

What can you do to protect yourself against rabies?

• Leave all wildlife alone, including any injured animals. If you find an injured animal, do not touch it and contact your local animal control office for help.
• Avoid feeding, approaching, touching, or adopting wild animals and stray domestic animals such as cats and dogs.
• If you see a stray dog or cat, do not pet it. This is especially important if you are traveling out of the United States to a country where rabies in dogs is common.
• If you find any animal that is acting strangely, you should contact your local animal control office for help.
• Be sure that your pets (dogs, cats, and ferrets) are up-to-date on their rabies vaccination. Even indoor pets should be vaccinated and it is also recommended that livestock animals are vaccinated.
  • Public Health Law, Article 21, Title 4 requires New York State (NYS) residents to keep their pets (cats, dogs, and ferrets) up-to-date on their rabies vaccination.
• Keep family pets indoors at night and do not let them roam alone.

Anyone who has been bitten by any animal or may have been exposed to rabies needs to take immediate action. Make sure to thoroughly clean any wounds or bites with soap and water, and then call your health care provider for further instructions. If you can do so safely, capture the animal (being careful not to damage the head/brain) and call your local health department to report the incident. Capturing the animal is vital in order for it to be tested for rabies. Testing will confirm if the animal is infected with the virus or not, making sure that only those who need treatment get it. 

A doctor in consultation with the health department will determine who needs to be vaccinated with rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (RPEP). The cost to treat an individual varies considerably based on weight, number of doses, and insurance.  In 2021, treatment costs ranged from $2,000.00-$9,000.00.  GO Health will work with the patient’s insurance company, but what is not covered by insurance is ultimately the responsibility of the taxpayers.  In 2021, Genesee County treated 14 people and Orleans County treated 13 people.

“We encourage residents to do their part to prevent rabies in the community by vaccinating their pets and practicing caution around wild and stray animals,” stated Pettit.  “Please visit one of the upcoming FREE drive-thru anti-rabies immunization clinics for dogs, cats and ferrets.”

• Genesee County Clinics at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY)
  • Thursday, May 19^th, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, August 11^th, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, September 15^th, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, October 13^th, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Orleans County Clinics at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 Rt. 31, Albion, NY)
  • Saturday, April 23^rd, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  • Saturday, June 4^th, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  • Saturday, August 13^th, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
  • Saturday, October 15^th, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For more information on Health Department services, visit GOHealthNY.org or call 589-3278 for Orleans County or 585-344-2580 ext. 5555 for Genesee County.

Press release:

The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a FREE anti-rabies immunization clinic on Thursday, February 10th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Batavia Town Highway Garage (3833 West Main Street Road, Batavia).  

“We encourage residents to take advantage of this opportunity to make sure that their animals are immunized against rabies and that the vaccinations are kept up to date,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Rabies continues to be a serious public health concern in Genesee County and is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Please leave wildlife alone and do not feed, touch, or adopt wild animals, stray dogs, or cats.”

Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats, and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum. Face coverings are required and please follow all social distancing requirements.

To save you time, please click here to fill out your registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you to the clinic.

The next anti-rabies immunization clinic in Genesee County will be held on May 19th at the Genesee County Fairgrounds.  For more information, please contact the Genesee County Health Department: 585-344-2580 x.5555 or Health.Dept@co.genesee.ny.us.

Press release:

The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting the last FREE drive-thru anti-rabies immunization clinic of 2021 on Thursday, October 14th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia).

“Rabies is a fatal, but preventable viral disease that can spread to people from pets if they are bitten and scratched by an infected animal with rabies,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “We encourage residents to take advantage of our last anti-rabies immunization clinic of 2021 and ensure their pets are protected against rabies.”

Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.

Face coverings are recommended and please follow all social distancing requirements.

To save you time, please click here to fill out your registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you to the clinic.

For more information, please contact the Genesee County Health Department:  585-344-2580 x.5555 or Health.Dept@co.genesee.ny.us.

Press release:

The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a FREE drive-thru anti-rabies immunization clinic on Thursday, September 16th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia).

“Rabies continues to be a public health issue in Genesee County. We urge pet owners to take this opportunity to ensure their pets are protected against rabies,” stated Paul Pettit, Public Health Director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health). “Our drive-thru clinics are well-organized, run very smoothly, and prevent animals from getting into any altercations with other animals.”

Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats, and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit 4 pets per car maximum.

Face coverings are recommended and please follow all social distancing requirements.

To save you time, please click here to fill out your registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you to the clinic.

The next anti-rabies immunization clinic in Orleans County will be held on October 2nd at the Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 Rt. 31 in Albion) from 9:00-11:30 a.m. For more information, please contact the Orleans County Health Department: 585-589-3278 or OCPublicHealth@orleanscountyny.gov. The next anti-rabies immunization clinic in Genesee County will be held on October 14th.  For more information, please contact the Genesee County Health Department: 585-344-2580 x.5555 or Health.Dept@co.genesee.ny.us.

Press release:

Rabies is a deadly but 100% preventable viral disease of mammals that is most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. 

Each year, the vast majority of rabies cases are reported occurring in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. “It is very important to get your pets vaccinated and not to touch or handle any stray or wild animals including baby animals and bats,” stated Paul Pettit, Director of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health).  “Remember not to touch animals out in public as they may be scared and bite or scratch out of fear.”

Bats can occasionally find their way into houses, which most often occurs during the summer nights. What should you do when you find a bat in your home? It is extremely important to safely capture the suspected animal if it has or may have been in contact with people, pets or livestock so it can be tested for rabies. If the bat cannot be captured, you should call the health department for advice and next steps. If you are certain that the bat did not come in contact with a person or pet, close the room and closet doors, open the windows and watch the bat until it leaves your house.

In some situations, it is possible that a bat bite could go undetected. For example, when a bat is found in a room with a sleeping person or a bat is found next to an unattended young child. 

“If the bat is available for testing and the test results are negative, post-exposure treatment will not be needed,” stated Pettit. Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis is recommended for all persons with a bite, scratch or mucus membrane exposure to a bat, unless the bat is available for testing and is negative for evidence of rabies. 

To safely capture a bat:

·       Turn on room lights and close all the windows.

·       Close the room and closet doors.

·       Wait for the bat to land.

·       While wearing thick leather-like gloves, place a coffee can, pail or similar container over the bat (Never handle a bat with your bare hands).

·       Slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat. 

·       Firmly hold the cardboard in place against the top of the container, turn it right side up and tape the cardboard tightly to the container. 

By avoiding contact with stray or wild animals, saving the bat or animal that may have had contact with humans or domestic animals, and reporting an incident to your local Health Department, we may be able to avoid unnecessary medical treatment that averages over $3,000.00 per person. As a pet owner, if you see your pet bite someone or know that your pet bit someone, please report it to the health department so we can get rabies verification. This will help avoid unnecessary medical treatment for the victim.  

Please take note of our upcoming FREE drive-thru anti-rabies immunization clinics for dogs, cats, and ferrets in Genesee and Orleans Counties. 

Orleans County: Orleans County Fairgrounds (12690 RT. 31, Albion, NY)

·      October 2, 2021, from 9:00-11:30 a.m.

Genesee County: Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 East Main Street, Batavia, NY)

·      September 16, 2021, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.

·       October 14, 2021, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.

From the county health department:

New York will once again be taking part in a nationally coordinated effort to halt the spread of raccoon rabies in 16 states. The Oral Rabies Vaccine Field Evaluation will be held in New York, July 26 – Aug. 24.

Ongoing field evaluation of a new oral rabies vaccine (ORV) called ONRAB will occur in Clinton, Essex counties in the Empire State as part of an evaluation that also includes parts of northern Vermont and New Hampshire.  Additionally, evaluations will also occur in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Orleans, Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Wyoming counties.

These sites were selected in part because of ongoing collaborations with partners from the provinces of Quebec and Ontario, Canada, in the fight against rabies to protect human and animal health and reduce significant costs associated with living with rabies across broad geographic areas.  Aerial and hand distribution of baits will take place in New York from July 26 – Aug. 24. 

Rabies is a serious public health concern because if left untreated it is invariably fatal. Costs associated with detection, prevention and control of rabies conservatively exceed $500 million annually.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, greater than 90 percent of reported rabies cases in the United States are in wildlife. The cooperative USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program (NRMP) was established in 1997 to prevent the further spread of wildlife rabies in the United States by containing and eventually eliminating the virus in terrestrial mammals.

The majority of the NRMP efforts are focused on controlling raccoon rabies, which continues to account for most of the reported wildlife rabies cases in the United States. Raccoon rabies occurs in all states east of the established ORV zone that extends from Maine to Northeastern Ohio to central Alabama.

Continued access to oral vaccine and bait options that are effective in all target wildlife species remains critical to long-term success. 

During 2011, the NRMP worked with other Federal, State, and local partners to conduct the first raccoon ORV field trial in the United States in over 20 years.

This field trial was designed to test the safety and immunogenicity of the oral human adenovirus-rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine ONRAB (Artemis Technologies, Guelph, Ontario, Canada), which has been successfully integrated into comprehensive rabies control programs that resulted in elimination of raccoon rabies from Canada.

Encouraging results from the U.S. trial in West Virginia represented a major milestone that led to expanded evaluations in four additional states (N.H., N.Y., Ohio, and Ver.) during 2012-2020.

In 2021, the use of ONRAB will further expand into two additional states (Pa. and Tenn.). Data from these evaluations will support licensing of this vaccine for broader, more aggressive management of raccoon rabies by the NRMP and partners, with the goal of eliminating the variant of the rabies virus that cycles in raccoons.

The ONRAB bait consists of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) blister pack, containing the vaccine. To make the baits attractive, the blister packs are coated with a sweet attractant that includes vegetable-based fats, wax, icing sugar, vegetable oil, artificial marshmallow flavor, and dark-green food-grade dye.

Humans and pets cannot get rabies from contact with the bait. However, people who encounter baits directly are asked to leave them undisturbed.  Should contact with bait occur, immediately rinse the area with warm water and soap and contact your local health department at (585) 344-2580, ext. 5555, for Genesee County or (585) 589-3278 for Orleans County.

Please do not attempt to remove a bait from your dog’s mouth. The bait will not harm the dog. If you have additional questions related to the field evaluation in New York, please contact the Wildlife Services office in Rensselaer at (518) 268-2289.

Press release:

The Genesee County Health Department will be hosting a FREE drive-thru anti-rabies immunization clinic on Thursday, May 20^th from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 E. Main St., Batavia). 

“We encourage all Genesee County residents to take advantage of this opportunity to make sure that their animals are immunized against rabies and that the vaccinations are kept up to date,” said Paul Pettit, Public Health director for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health).

“Rabies continues to be a serious public health concern in Genesee County and is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Please leave wildlife alone and do not feed, touch, or adopt wild animals, stray dogs or cats.”

Vaccinations are free for dogs, cats and ferrets, but voluntary donations are accepted. Animals must be at least 3 months old. Each animal must be leashed or crated and accompanied by an adult who can control the animal. Limit four pets per car maximum. 

Face coverings are required and please follow all social distancing requirements. 

To save you time, please click here to fill out your registration form in advance. Be sure to print out two copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you to the clinic. 

The next anti-rabies immunization clinic in Genesee County will be held on Aug. 12^th. For more information, please contact the Genesee County Health Department: (585) 344-2580, ext. 5555 or Health.Dept@co.genesee.ny.us

Press release:

The Genesee County Health Departments will host a FREE drive thru anti-rabies immunization clinic Oct. 15.

Note that last month, Orleans County had two exposures from feral cats that tested positive for rabies and resulted in unnecessary and costly post exposure treatments. It’s important to avoid contact with unknown animals both wild and domestic – love your own, leave the rest alone. It is an important reminder that all dogs, cats and ferrets are to be updated on their rabies vaccines.

• The Genesee County clinic will be on Thursday, Oct. 15th from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Genesee County Fairgrounds (5056 E. Main Street Road, Batavia).

• To assist with crowd control, the vaccination clinics are only for county residents. The Genesee clinic will only be for Genesee County residents.

• Click here (pdf) to print out and fill in the rabies certificate for your pets. Be sure to print out TWO copies for each pet to be vaccinated and bring them with you. Masks are required when speaking to staff and when outside of your vehicle at the vaccination station.

  For more information, please contact:

Genesee County Health Department: (585) 344-2580, ext. 5555

• Health.Dept@co.genesee.ny.us

At one point Thursday, cars lined up for free rabies shots for their pets were backed up on Route 5 and a deputy was dispatched to assist with traffic control.

Sarah Balduf, environmental health director for Genesee County, said it was a larger than normal turnout for the rabies clinic and that cars started lining up at 2:30.

Staff members started processing paperwork and vaccinating pets as soon as they were set up, ahead of the 4 p.m. start time, which helped workers keep up with the stream of cars coming through the fairgrounds.